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Altered hippocampal function in major depression despite intact structure and resting perfusion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2016

A. Finkelmeyer ,
J. Nilsson ,
J. He ,
L. Stevens ,
J. J. Maller ,
R. A. Moss ,
S. Small ,
P. Gallagher ,
K. Coventry  and
I. N. Ferrier
...Show all authors
A. Finkelmeyer*
Affiliation:
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
J. Nilsson
Affiliation:
Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
J. He
Affiliation:
Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
L. Stevens
Affiliation:
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
J. J. Maller
Affiliation:
Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
R. A. Moss
Affiliation:
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
S. Small
Affiliation:
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
P. Gallagher
Affiliation:
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
K. Coventry
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
I. N. Ferrier
Affiliation:
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
R. H. McAllister-Williams
Affiliation:
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: A. Finkelmeyer, Ph.D., Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Wolfson Research Centre, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE4 5PL, UK. (Email: andreas.finkelmeyer@newcastle.ac.uk)
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Abstract

Background

Hippocampal volume reductions in major depression have been frequently reported. However, evidence for functional abnormalities in the same region in depression has been less clear. We investigated hippocampal function in depression using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and neuropsychological tasks tapping spatial memory function, with complementing measures of hippocampal volume and resting blood flow to aid interpretation.

Method

A total of 20 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and a matched group of 20 healthy individuals participated. Participants underwent multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): fMRI during a spatial memory task, and structural MRI and resting blood flow measurements of the hippocampal region using arterial spin labelling. An offline battery of neuropsychological tests, including several measures of spatial memory, was also completed.

Results

The fMRI analysis showed significant group differences in bilateral anterior regions of the hippocampus. While control participants showed task-dependent differences in blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal, depressed patients did not. No group differences were detected with regard to hippocampal volume or resting blood flow. Patients showed reduced performance in several offline neuropsychological measures. All group differences were independent of differences in hippocampal volume and hippocampal blood flow.

Conclusions

Functional abnormalities of the hippocampus can be observed in patients with MDD even when the volume and resting perfusion in the same region appear normal. This suggests that changes in hippocampal function can be observed independently of structural abnormalities of the hippocampus in depression.

Keywords

Hippocampusmagnetic resonance imagingmajor depressive disorderspatial memory
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 46 , Issue 10 , July 2016 , pp. 2157 - 2168
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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